Karen M. McManus explained

Karen M. McManus (born 1969) is an American author of young adult fiction.^[1] She is most known for her first novel, One of Us Is Lying, which spent more than five years on The New York Times Best Seller list,^[2] as well as its sequels One of Us Is Next and One of Us Is Back, and the stand-alone novel Two Can Keep a Secret.

Early life and education

McManus discovered an interest for writing when she was eight years old and was assigned to write a story in school.^[3] She attended the College of the Holy Cross, earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature, then attended Northeastern University, where she received a Master of Arts (M.A.) in journalism.

One of Us is Lying trilogy (2017–2023)

The One of Us is Lying series consists of three novels: One of Us is Lying (2017),^[4] One of Us Is Next (2020), and One of Us Is Back (2023).

One of Us Is Lying was optioned as a pilot by NBC and the television adaption premiered on Peacock in October 2021.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Standalone novels

Two Can Keep a Secret (2019)

For Two Can Keep a Secret, which was McManus’ first standalone novel outside of the One of Us Is Lying trilogy, Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review and named it one of the best books of 2019.^[8]

The Cousins (2020)

The Cousins, McManus's second standalone novel and fourth novel overall, was a #1 New York Times bestseller^[9] and an Edgar Award Nominee.^[10]

Personal life

She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She rereads The Secret History by Donna Tartt every year.

Works

One of Us Is Lying trilogy

1. One of Us Is Lying (Delacorte Press, 2017)^{[11] [12] [13]}
2. One of Us Is Next (Delacorte Press, 2020)^{[14] [15]}
3. One of Us Is Back (Delacorte Press, 2023)

Standalone novels

• Two Can Keep a Secret (Delacorte Press, 2019)^{[8] [16] [17]}
• The Cousins (Delacorte Press, 2020)^{[18] [19]}
• You'll Be the Death of Me (November 2021)^[20]
• Nothing More To Tell (Random House, 30 August 2022)^[21]
• Such Charming Liars (Random House, 30 July 2024)^[22]
• Marple: Twelve New Stories (contributor to continuation collection authorised for Miss Marple (2022))^[23]

External links

• • 2019 interview with Publishers Weekly
• 2017 article in Publishers Weekly
• 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly
• 2017 interview with The Boston Globe

Notes and References

1. 2018-03-02. Karen M. McManus. Contemporary Authors. Gale Contemporary Literature.
2. Web site: Young Adult Hardcover Books - Best Sellers. February 5, 2023. The New York Times. 2023-02-05. en.
3. Web site: 2023-07-25 . Q&A: Karen M. McManus, Author of 'One of Us Is Back' . 2024-01-15 . The Nerd Daily . en-AU.
4. Web site: Children's Book Review: One of Us Is Lying . 2020-02-05 . www.publishersweekly.com.
5. Web site: Cambridge author talks 'One of Us Is Lying' after NBCUniversal orders murder mystery to pilot . 2020-02-05 . BostonGlobe.com . en-US.
6. Web site: Otterson . Joe . 2019-09-25 . Jennifer Morrison to Direct 'One of Us Is Lying' Pilot for Peacock (Exclusive) . 2020-02-05 . Variety . en.
7. Web site: Petski . Denise . 2019-10-30 . 'One Of Us Is Lying': Peacock's YA Mystery Drama Pilot Based On Book Sets Cast . 2020-02-05 . Deadline . en.
8. Web site: Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus. Kirkus Reviews. en.
9. News: Young Adult Hardcover Books - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 20, 2020 - The New York Times . 2024-07-05 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
10. https://mysterywriters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021EdgarNomTTD.pdf
11. Book: One of Us Is Lying. Kirkus Reviews. en.
12. Web site: Book Review - One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. BookPage.com. May 10, 2017 . en. 2020-02-05.
13. Web site: Junior Library Guild : One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. www.juniorlibraryguild.com. 2020-02-05.
14. Web site: One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus . Kirkus Reviews . es.
15. Web site: EW's winter thriller preview: Your complete guide to the season's best page-turners . 2020-02-05 . EW.com . en.
16. Web site: Children's Book Review: Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus. Delacorte, $29.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-5247-1472-7. PublishersWeekly.com. en. 2020-02-05.
17. Web site: EW talks YA: Heart-racing thrillers and mysteries keep us on the edge of our seats. EW.com. en. 2020-02-05.
18. Web site: McManus. Karen. The Cousins. 2020-11-17. karen-mcmanus. en. November 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124100255/https://www.karenmcmanus.com/coming-soon. dead.
19. Book: McManus, Karen M.. The Cousins. 2020. Random House Children's Books. 978-0-525-70800-1. en.
20. Web site: You'll Be the Death of Me. 2020-11-17. karen-mcmanus. en.
21. Web site: Nothing More to Tell – Author Karen M. McManus .
22. Web site: Such Charming Liars – Author Karen M. McManus .
23. Web site: 'Feminist icon' Miss Marple returns in 12 new authorised mystery stories . . 15 September 2022 .